Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organising the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/722,333 filed Dec. 20,2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,983,955 issued Mar. 17, 2015 which was acontinuation of application Ser. No. 11/600,778 filed Nov. 17, 2006, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,386,484 issued Feb. 26, 2013 which was a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 09/689,927 filed Oct. 12, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.7,293,228 issued Nov. 6, 2007 which was a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 09/108,999 filed Jul. 1, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,233,592 issued May 15, 2001 which was a continuation of applicationPCT/AU98/00050 filed Jan. 30, 1998 which claimed priority fromAustralian Application No. PO4892 filed Jan. 31, 1997. Application Ser.Nos. 13/722,333, 11/600,778, 09/689,927, 09/108,999, PCT/AU98/00050 andPO4892 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic publishing system, and inparticular to an electronic publishing system for the delivery ofinformation which is not limited as to storage space and is not governedby predetermined pathways.

The present invention relates generally to an electronic publishingsystem and, in particular, to aids for navigating in an electronicpublishing system and a method of organising data in an electronicpublishing system.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, information is published in document form as a printedpublication, or in electronic form but again using the document or bookmetaphor. In the past, the concept of a “multidimensional space” inelectronic publishing has been intuitively understood (that is,instinctively desired). However, a comprehensive display, discussion ortreatment has been rejected by publishers and information providers astoo difficult to develop and manage. Instead, publishers and informationproviders have managed large amounts of data:

(1) by limiting the size or coverage of the information space; and

(2) by setting or predetermining the path through that informationspace.

The effect of this is clearest when the dimension of time is considered.The conventional approach to information storage and publishing iscentred on the notion that information is either “current information”(ie, present day) or “historical information” (ie, the day before thepresent day and all days prior to that). Thus, information istraditionally retained (stored) and/or published (sold) as eithercurrent or historical information.

The effect of this has been to leave the end user with a collection ofnon-integrated repositories and many additional tasks to do before theinformation is useful to them. For example, the end user is required to:

(1) make most of their own connections between related pieces ofinformation;

(2) do their own analysis of the type and subject of information theyrequire or are seeking; and

(3) find information appropriate to the point in, or period of, timewith which they are concerned.

To illustrate the disadvantages of conventional publishing systems, anexample of using such conventional techniques and publishing systems toresearch information is provided. If a person were interested ininformation regarding the powers of the Secretary under Australianlegislation with respect to couples in a family relationship, when andhow the Secretary is restricted, and what did the relevant legislationprovide prior to that, the person would refer to relevant legalinformation, which is the Social Security legislation of theCommonwealth of Australia. The relevant provisions are set forth inAppendix A under the heading “Example Research”. This would bedetermined by the end user's own knowledge of the broad subject and/orreference to secondary material.

The relevant legislative provision is Section 4, which in conventionalelectronic legal publishing systems might be found by looking for wordsor phrases such as “family”, “family relationships”, and “familyrelationships” AND “social security”, where AND is a logical operator.

Once the above is established, it can be seen from the information foundthat Section 4 of the Social Security Act, as at 9/8/96, has beenamended ten times (see Appendix A: A1. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION AT 9/8/96).

There is however nothing in the current Commonwealth Government Reprint,in either the electronic or print versions (see heading EXAMPLE RESEARCHof Appendix A), that allows the end user to see the text of thoseamendments or what part(s) of Section 4 were changed by them.

Thus, unless the end user is prepared to refer to many statute books,reading each piece of text against another, the end user is not able tosee easily or reliably what section 4 looked like before it was amendedby any one of a number of prior amending Acts. However, if the end userhas a library complete enough to provide access to the prior amendingActs, the person would eventually determine that Act No 105 of 1995 isthe relevant amending Act.

Further, it should be noted that, while the Commonwealth GovernmentReprint indicates that the Social Security Act was amended by Act No 105of 1995, it does not indicate what section or schedule in Act No 105 of1995 actually amended Section 4. This again requires the end user tohave access to the amending Acts themselves and renders the informationprovided by the Reprint as to commencement (see Appendix A: B.COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION FOR ACT NO 105 OF 1995 CONTAINED IN REPRINT) oflittle utility without a copy of the amending Act No 105 of 1995 fromwhich it can be established that Section 14 of Act No 105 amendedSection 4 of the Social Security Act with respect to powers of theCommissioner (see Appendix A: D. AMENDING ACT 1995 NO 105 AMENDINGSECTION 14).

Eventually, the required information can be found but several pieces ofinformation need to be searched by the end user. This is an arduous,time consuming, tedious and complex task that must be manually repeatedfor each research topic and if the same search is to be carried outagain.

Conventional publishing systems, including electronic publishing systemsthat typically are speeded-up, paper-based publishing systems, are basedon a book-metaphor. The smallest piece of information used by suchconventional publishing systems is either (I) an Act or Regulation (inthe case of reprints, a whole Act or Regulation is printed again), or(II) a word. Typically, conventional publishing systems choose a word asthe smallest piece when legislation is amended. To track suchamendments, a lawyer or their assistant may actually use scissors to cutand paste pieces of legislation or the publisher cuts and pastes eachword electronically. If a whole Act or Regulation is tracked as in (I)above, it is necessary to store each new version of an Act or Regulationin its entirety.

This has a number of consequences, including:

a) only a few versions of each Act or Regulation are stored;

b) the end user rarely searches more than one reprint at a time;

c) it is very difficult to know which particular section or schedule haschanged, to track how that particular section or schedule has changed,to find the relevant section of the Amending Act or Regulation thateffected the section or schedule as shown in the reprint;

d) if multiple changes have occurred on a particular section or schedulebetween reprints, the latest version of the section or schedule can onlybe seen in the reprint;

e) issues like commencement of the latest version of a particularsection or schedule and so-called “Application, Saving or TransitionalProvisions” are difficult to recreate; and

f) it is difficult to come to a full understanding of the legislation bymeans of the reprints.

If every single word is tracked, as in (II) above, a level of complexityresults that is difficult to administer and maintain without a largenumber of errors. For example, some legislative sections and schedulesare amended several times annually.

Table 1 provides an example where Section 6 of the Income Tax AssessmentAct has been amended 70 times:

TABLE 1 S. 6 am. No. 88, 1936; No. 30, 1939; No. 50, 1942; No. 3, 1944;No. 6, 1946; No. 44, 1948; No. 48, 1950; No. 1, 1953; No. 65, 1957; No.55, 1958; No. 85, 1959; Nos. 18 and 108, 1960; No. 17, 1961; No. 69,1963; No. 110, 1964; No. 103, 1965; No. 85, 1967; Nos. 4, 60 and 87,1968; No. 93, 1969; No. 54, 1971; Nos. 51 and 164, 1973; No. 216, 1973(as am. by No. 20, 1974); No. 126, 1974; Nos. 80 and 117, 1975; Nos. 50,143 and 205, 1976; Nos. 87 and 172, 1978; No. 27, 1979; No. 24, 1980;Nos. 108 and 154, 1981; No. 103, 1983; Nos. 47 and 123, 1984; No. 168,1985; Nos. 41, 48, 52 and 154, 1986; No. 138, 1987; Nos. 73, 97, 105 and107, 1989; Nos. 20, 35 and 135, 1990; Nos. 4, 5, 100 and 216, 1991; Nos.80, 98 and 224, 1992; Nos. 17, 18, 57 and 82, 1993; Nos. 138 and 181,1994; Nos. 5 and 169, 1995

It is both difficult and impractical to store the complete amendmenthistory of every word and phrase within section 6. Trying to track allchanges on such a detailed level leads to unmanageable complexity.

Largely, the split between historical and present information has comeabout because of the publishing and information industry's owndevelopment, and not because such is the desired or best way to manageinformation. Thus, a need clearly exists for an electronic publishingsystem that can overcome one or more of the disadvantages ofconventional techniques and systems.

International Publication No. WO 98/34179 (PCT/AU98/00050),corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/108,999, isincorporated herein by cross reference and discloses an electronicpublishing system that provides a sparse multidimensional matrix of datausing a set of flat file records. In particular, thecomputer-implemented system publishes an electronic publication usingtext-based data. Predefined portions of the text-based data are storedand used for the publication. At least one of the predefined portions ismodified, and the modified version is stored as well. The predefinedportion is typically a block of text, greater in size than a singleword, but less than an entire document. Thus, for example, in the caseof legislation, the predefined portion may be a section of the Act. Eachpredefined portion and the modified portion(s) are marked up with one ormore links using a markup language, preferably SGML or XML. The systemalso has attributes, each being a point on an axis of a multidimensionalspace for organising the predefined portions and the modified portion(s)of the text-based data. This system is simply referred to as the MultiAccess Layer Technology or “MALT” system hereinafter.

Existing methods of navigating electronic publications have been derivedfrom traditional methods used to navigate printed publications. Typicalof these methods is the use of a bookmark, which is merely an indicatorwhich identifies a page or section of interest. Bookmarks are typicallylimited in the information provided to users. Bookmarks follow a singleaxis, perhaps indicating the current page, chapter and title of thepublication. However, bookmarks do not necessarily provide the user withadequate context pertaining to how the user arrived at the current page.If a user knows the exact publication desired and then navigates throughthe same publication, a bookmark is probably adequate for the user'sneeds. In the event that the user has conducted a number of searches andtrawled through various versions of different documents to arrive at thecurrent page of a publication, it is impossible for a bookmark tocapture all the relevant information and provide the user with anadequate reading context. The book metaphor fails to address theabilities and complexities of electronic publications.

Existing methods of navigating compact disc based publications andInternet sites are typically ill-suited to displaying the complex dataprovided by MALT. Known web solutions, for example, typically handle twoaxes, sequential and hierarchical, using either embedded links such asPrevious, Next and Contents, or expandable content frames, as providedin Windows Explorer. Further axes may be handled by incorporatingembedded links in the body of the text. Such embedded links are point topoint, and provide limited navigational value to the user.

Object databases are capable of providing the required functionality,but search queries employed by these databases are too complicated foruntrained users, both in terms of the complexity and amount ofinformation required.

Thus, a need clearly exists for a detailed context to be provided tousers of electronic publishing, overcoming one or more disadvantages ofexisting systems.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided asystem for publishing electronic information, comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of data with each predefined portionbeing encoded with at least one linking means, and, for each predefinedportion, the each predefined portion is stored and, where suchpredefined portion has been modified, each such modified predefinedportion is stored; and

a plurality of attributes, each attribute being a point on an axis of amultidimensional space for organising the data.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided arecording medium for publishing electronic information, comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of data with each predefined portionbeing encoded with at least one linking means, and, for each predefirmedportion, the each predefined portion is stored and, where suchpredefined portion has been modified, each such modified predefinedportion is stored; and

a plurality of attributes, each attribute being a point on an axis of amultidimensional space for organising the data.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for publishing electronic information, comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined portions of data with eachpredefined portion being encoded with at least one linking means, and,for each predefined portion, the each predefined portion is stored and,where such predefined portion has been modified, each such modifiedpredefined portion is stored; and

providing a plurality of attributes, each attribute being a point on anaxis of a multidimensional space for organising the data.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof navigating in a multidimensional space having three or moredimensions. The method includes the steps of:

displaying in a first display region a selected predefined portion of anelectronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language, each predefined portion having atleast one attribute being a coordinate of an axis of themultidimensional space, wherein logical connections among the predefinedportions, and any logical connections between the predefined portionsand predefined portions of any further electronic publication data inthe multidimensional space, correspond to one or more axes of themultidimensional space;

displaying a point on a primary axis of the multidimensional spacedependent upon an attribute of the displayed predefined portion;

displaying a second point on a second, viewing axis orthogonal to thefirst axis, the second point being derived from the first pointdependent upon a logical connection between the displayed predefinedportion and a predefined portion associated with the second point; and

displaying information regarding the second point of the second axis ina second display region, the first and second points being displayed intwo display regions.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of navigating in a multidimensional space having three or moredimensions, the multidimensional space containing an electronicpublication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encodedusing a markup language. The method includes the steps of:

providing a view comprising at least two anchor sets;

displaying at least one base point and at least a first axis dependingfrom the base point;

displaying at least one of a further point and an axis derived from thebase point;

navigating a multidimensional space formed by the points and axes;

returning to the base point when required; and

adjusting the view so a current view point becomes a new base point.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus for navigating in a multidimensional space having three ormore dimensions. The apparatus includes:

a device for displaying in a first display region a selected predefinedportion of an electronic publication formed from predefined portions oftext-based data encoded using a markup language, each predefined portionhaving at least one attribute being a coordinate of an axis of themultidimensional space, wherein logical connections among the predefinedportions, and any logical connections between the predefined portionsand predefined portions of any further electronic publication data inthe multidimensional space, correspond to one or more axes of themultidimensional space;

a device for displaying a point on a selected axis of themultidimensional space dependent upon an attribute of the displayedpredefined portion;

a device for displaying a second point on a second, viewing axisorthogonal to the selected axis, the second point being derived from thefirst axis at the first point dependent upon a logical connectionbetween the displayed predefined portion and a predefined portionassociated with the second point; and

a device for displaying information regarding the second point of thesecond axis in a second display region, the first and second pointsbeing displayed in two display regions.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus for navigating in a multidimensional space having three ormore dimensions, the multidimensional space containing an electronicpublication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encodedusing a markup language. The apparatus includes:

a device for providing a view comprising at least two anchor sets;

a device for displaying at least one base point and at least a firstaxis depending from said base point;

a device for displaying at least one of a further point and an axisderived from the base point;

a device for navigating a multidimensional space formed by the pointsand axes;

a device for returning to the base point when required; and

a device for adjusting the view so a current view point becomes a newbase point.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer program product having a computer readable medium having acomputer program recorded therein for navigating in a multidimensionalspace having three or more dimensions. The computer program productincludes:

a computer program code module for displaying in a first display regiona selected predefined portion of an electronic publication formed frompredefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language,each predefined portion having at least one attribute being a coordinateof an axis of the multidimensional space, wherein logical connectionsamong the predefined portions, and any logical connections between thepredefined portions and predefined portions of any further electronicpublication data in the multidimensional space, correspond to one ormore axes of the multidimensional space;

a computer program code module for displaying a point on a primary axisof the multidimensional space dependent upon an attribute of thedisplayed predefined portion;

a computer program module for displaying a second point on a second,viewing axis orthogonal to the first axis, the second point beingderived from the first point dependent upon a logical connection betweenthe displayed predefined portion and a predefined portion associatedwith the second point; and

a computer program code module for displaying information regarding thesecond point of the second axis in a second display region, the firstand second points being displayed in two display regions.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer program product having a computer readable medium having acomputer program recorded therein for navigating in a multidimensionalspace having three or more dimensions, the multidimensional spacecontaining an electronic publication formed from predefined portions oftext-based data encoded using a markup language. The computer programproduct includes:

a computer program code module for providing a view comprising at leasttwo anchor sets;

a computer program code module for displaying at least one base pointand at least a first axis depending from said base point;

a computer program code module for displaying other points, axes or bothderived from said base point;

a computer program code module for navigating a multidimensional spaceformed by said points and axes;

a computer program code module for returning to said base point whenrequired; and

a computer program code module for adjusting the view so a current viewpoint becomes a new base point.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of publishing an electronic publication formed from predefinedportions of text-based data encoded using a markup language. The methodincludes the steps of:

storing predefined portions in terminal nodes; and

providing one or more higher level nodes for organising the terminalnodes to correspond with a hierarchical structure embodied in theelectronic publication, wherein each higher level node consists of theidentity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher levelnode, and an identifier;

wherein one of the higher level nodes has a null parent identity, andthe position indicator indicates a position of the higher level noderelative to a sibling node.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided anapparatus for publishing an electronic publication formed frompredefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language.The apparatus includes:

a device for storing predefined portions in terminal nodes; and

a device for providing one or more higher level nodes for organising theterminal nodes to correspond with a hierarchical structure embodied inthe electronic publication, wherein each higher level node consists ofthe identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher levelnode, and an identifier;

wherein one of the higher level nodes has a null parent identity, andthe position indicator indicates a position of the higher level noderelative to a sibling node.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer program product having a computer readable medium having acomputer program recorded therein for publishing an electronicpublication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encodedusing a markup language. The computer program product includes:

a computer program code module for storing predefined portions interminal nodes; and

a computer program code module for providing one or more higher levelnodes for organising the terminal nodes to correspond with ahierarchical structure embodied in the electronic publication, whereineach higher level node consists of the identity of a parent node, aposition indicator for said higher level node, and an identifier;

wherein one of the higher level nodes has a null parent identity, andthe position indicator indicates a position of the higher level noderelative to a sibling node.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portionsof text-based data encoded using a markup language. The method includesthe steps of:

storing predefined portions in terminal nodes; and

providing one or more higher level nodes for organising the terminalnodes to correspond with a hierarchical structure embodied in theelectronic publication, wherein each higher level node consists of theidentity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher levelnode, and an identifier, the predefined portion includes text associatedwith a commentary, and a scope including a start date, an end date andan update date, the update date being later than the start date andearlier than the end date;

further wherein one of the higher level nodes has a null parentidentity, and the position indicator indicates a position of the higherlevel node relative to a sibling node.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A small number of embodiments of the invention are described withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a grid of a multidimensional space according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates the effect of the various axes;

FIG. 3 illustrates the mapping of various axis intersection points, ornodes, that is used to organize, present, and find information (presentand past) according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates the application of legal information to mapped nodesaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a general purpose computer thatcan be used to implement the electronic publishing system according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of electronicpublishing according to the first embodiment; and

FIGS. 7 to 17 are screen shots illustrating operation of the firstembodiment as a software application executing on a general purposecomputer.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are describedhereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 18 is a screen shot of a Normal axis view of a MALT publication(with a search mode enabled) in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 19 is a screen shot of a Versions axis view of a MALT publicationin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a screen shot of a Source axis view of a MALT publication inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram representation of higher level scoping inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 22A, 22B and 22C are screen shots illustrating a commentary inaccordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 23 is a computer program product block diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed towards a system of electronicpublishing that can overcome the disadvantages of conventionalinformation publishing, both in print and electronic form. The presentinvention reduces, if not eliminates, end user problems withconventional information publishing including:

-   -   (1) the connectivity between related pieces of information;    -   (2) analysis of the type and subject of information; and    -   (3) finding information appropriate to the point in time with        which they are concerned.

Overview of Embodiments

The embodiments of the invention provide an entirely new way ofdelivering, storing and publishing information. The embodiments allowpublishers to add an arbitrary number of logical connections to a set ofdata, and even permit the publisher to display the precise evolution ofthat data set over time. This can be done without getting bogged down inthe complexity of the logical connections and without limit as tostorage space.

Frequently, people desire to have more “information” available. However,with the advent of the Internet and new technology, many people sufferfrom information overload. The embodiments of the invention provide aneasy and effective way to navigate large complex volumes of information.

Conventionally, information may only contain very rudimentary (i.e.,haphazard hyperlinks), or non existent logical connections. Thus,conventional techniques of investigating how a set of data has evolvedand changed over time can only be done for small data sets and are veryexpensive.

However, with the embodiments of the invention, it is possible to listall logical connections within a data set no matter how complex thoseconnections may be. The embodiments of the invention and the principlesof those embodiments described hereinafter can be applied to manydifferent types of information such as medical, scientific,pharmaceutical, etc. For ease of description, however, the embodimentsare set forth in relation to legal information.

Conventionally, legislation is often purchased in two ways: (1) Theindividual Numbered Acts and Regulations that give each piece oflegislation as it is passed; and (2) Consolidated legislation thatprovides the latest consolidated version.

In the embodiments of the invention, legislation is stored using everyversion of each Act or Regulation. The end user can search every versionof any section, schedule, or provision. For example, the requiredversion of a section is immediately available as is the opportunity toview every preceeding and subsequent version of the same section. Also,links are available to any relevant amending legislation commencing thatchange, as well as the one that repealed it. Relevant Application,Saving or Transitional Provisions can also be easily accessed.

In this manner, it is possible to come to a full understanding of thelegislation just by looking at the data provided through the embodimentsof the invention. In contrast, using conventional techniques, it wouldhave been impossible or very hard, expensive and time consuming to doso.

Using conventional means, a person wishing to view a particular sectionof a particular Act (e.g., the Income Tax Assessment Act) as of aparticular date (e.g., 30th Jun. 1996), a significant amount of workwould be required to do so. The end user would need to track allAmendments since the last reprint of the legislation, which may take along time and involve referring to many volumes. This may even possiblyinvolve using scissors and paste to actually cut and replace words. Evento figure out which Acts amended a particular section and to trace thosecommencement dates can be difficult, time consuming and trying. However,a piece of research that may have taken an experienced researcher daysor even weeks can be accomplished in minutes using the embodiments ofthe invention.

The ability to move through information in time is outlined above. Theembodiments of the invention also give additional flexibility and SCOPEto the end user. Further dimensions and interconnections may include:type, jurisdiction, subject, depth. Some examples are:

-   -   1. Doing research on the subject evidence at depth confession        for types Acts and Case for time period 12 months.    -   2. Doing research on type cases within jurisdictions NSW and        Queensland subject murder and depth statutes dealing with        subject.

The ability to associate the relevance and interconnection containedwithin the information is highly advantageous to the end user.

A key aspect of the embodiments of the invention in successfullyproviding a multi-dimensional repository of information has been indeciding the “optimum storage unit”. In the past publishers have chosento either store new versions of the entire Act (too big) or new versionsof each and every change, in a method similar to red lining (toocomplex). The first aspect of the invention was to analysis the data andchoose to store every version of every section or provision level oflegislation.

Structured Generalised Markup Language (SGML) is a recognised way tomark up data. SGML allows logical structure to be added to a document(unlike HTML and word processors which only allow the addition of visualcontent). SGML alone is not enough to deal with text-based data thatcontains a highly complex logical structure. The complexity increasesexponentially until the complexity cannot be managed any more. Largelegal publishers have stored their data in SGML, but those legalpublishers that are successful in dealing with their SGML-based datahave purposely kept their markup as simple as possible. When suchpublishers have tried to encode a complex structure on text-based datatheir costs of creating the data set and maintaining the data set simplywent through the roof, and it became impossible to maintain theintegrity of the data set.

In contrast, the embodiments of the invention allow SGML data to beencoded with a much more complex structure whilst remaining manageable.Alternatively, Extensible Markup Language (XML) may be used. Forexample, with SGML it is possible to encode all 71 versions of Section 6of the Australian Federal Income Tax Assessment Act in a single file(that Act has about 6,000 sections) but this would be utterlyunmanageable when applied to the 6,000 other sections of the Income TaxAssessment Act. It becomes even more unmanageable if anybody would tryto use the above method on all the sections within all other Acts andRegulations of the Commonwealth. A significant problem with using SGML,even well executed SGML, is that it is possible to quickly get boggeddown in unmanageable levels of complexity. The embodiments of theinvention have overcome these problems.

Another key aspect of the invention is the use of database technologiesin the management of the SGML encoded techniques. Database technologyprovides a large number of ready tools to deal with complex structureddata. The embodiments combine these technologies (SGML, XML and databasetechnologies) in an advantageous manner.

In the past, traditional publishers have been limited by the size andspeed of available storage systems. Only a limited amount can bereproduced in paper and until recently hard disk costs prohibited thestoring of multiple gigabytes of data, for both publishers and clientsalike.

The embodiments of the invention have the ability to look at situationsfrom a new and up-to-date view point and therefore come up withinnovative conclusions that can be radically different to processesemployed in the past.

Thus, the embodiments of the invention provide a new computer publishingsystem that changes the availability of electronic information frombeing merely “speeded up paper” to being electronic information takingadvantage of new electronic media by providing users with enhancedfunctionality of data retrieval and manipulation. The informationincluded in the electronic format is of a publishable standard, meetscost constraints and is able to be accessed under any combination ofdimensions from the multi-dimensional space (Acts, cases, time,jurisdiction, subject). The publishing system facilitates continualupdates to the data contained in the databases, without any adverseeffects on the operating capabilities that make the publishing systemunique. Due to the extra functionality, the publishing system is alsodesigned in such a way that it can still be made available in as manydifferent electronic media as possible, and all search functions areable to operate in a time-efficient manner.

The embodiments of the invention organize, process and presentinformation in a way that is significantly different than conventionalstructures, processes and presentation. They provide an informationstorage and publishing system, and in particular, an information storageand publishing system that stores and manages large and comprehensiveamounts of information (eg, legal information).

Publication data, being preferably legal information, is encoded usingStandard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) or Extensible MarkupLanguage (XML) which adds codes to the publication data and providesfunctionality to the data. The publication data is processed as aplurality of predefined portions, which in the case of legislation ispreferably at the section, schedule level, or provision level. Ahierarchy of divisions of the legislation may be implemented. For eachof the predefined portions, the system stores a copy of the predefinedportion and a modified predefined portion in the first database wheneverit is changed. A second (relational) database is preferably providedthat comprises plural attributes for managing the information of thefirst database, with each attribute being a point on an axis of amultidimensional space for organising the data for publication.Alternatively, a single repository of information may be practised asdescribed with reference to the second embodiment.

The system enables the first database to be searched for one of thepredefined portions of the publication data using attributes of thesecond database by following one or more pathways through themultidimensional space. The plurality of attributes are connected to bythe plurality of links. Once the desired predefined portion is located,the predefined portions can be retrieved using the attributes to definea point in the multidimensional space.

Preferably, the system implements, inter alia, time-based legislation inwhich sections of legislation that have been amended are not discardedand replaced with the current provision only as of the publication date.Instead, each version of an amended section is retained in the firstdatabase. Thus, the systems according to the embodiments of theinvention are particularly advantageous in that legal information ispublished so that a user can obtain such sections or provisions at aparticular time point.

The embodiments advantageously divide information into “suitably” smallpieces (or blocks) of text, each of which is a predefined portion ofdata, and add to each piece of text, either expressly or implicitly, anumber of attributes (characteristics or descriptors). The suitabilityas to size of text pieces is determined by an analysis of theinformation and its naturally occurring structure based on knowledge ofhow the information is used and consumed by the end user.

This makes it possible to locate each piece or block of text at aparticular point in a “multidimensional space” using as coordinates theattributes added to the piece or block of text. Multidimensional spacerefers to an area not having boundaries and that is capable of, orinvolves, more than three dimensions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-dimensional space 100 as used in embodimentsof the invention. The multidimensional space is represented by a layeredgrid. The diagram represents axes or pathways as vertical and horizontallines; in reality (in the case of more than two dimensions), they are atall angles and inclines.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ability to locate (assign) or map each node 102(or key intersection point of the various axes or pathways) is asignificant functional aspect of the embodiments of the invention. Thismapping is explained further hereinafter. With such coordinates 102known (located or mapped), it is possible to move easily between pointsin the multidimensional space 100.

The effect of mapping nodes as shown in FIG. 3 is that a course 320through the information represented in the three-dimensional space 100can be easily plotted. The user begins the course 320 at node 302 andprogresses vertically downward to the fourth node 304. Further, theplotted course 320 is flexible to the extent of the relationships a userchooses to follow or seek out.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the invention provides information management inthe multidimensional space and allows movement along different axes or“pathways”:

location of the information (its address);

type of information (its genesis);

jurisdiction (its class);

subject (its content description);

depth (extent of content); and

time (the point in time at which the information is viewed).

In the first embodiment, coding of information or data for publicationis based on SGML or XML and one or more specifically developed DocumentType Definitions (DTD), which preferably is specifically designed forlegal information. Alternatively, in the case of XML, a Style SheetMechanism (SSM) may be used. This coding can then be related back toinformation retained in a specifically developed database that enablesthe code information to be managed and updated. For a detaileddescription of this aspect of the invention, reference is made toAppendix C. The DTDs according to the first embodiment are set forth indetail in Appendix B. A DTD is used to define the structure ofpublication data, preferably being legislation, down to a comprehensivelevel. This is done by using information coded in conjunction with anyone of a number of off-the-shelf, free-text retrieval software packages(eg, Folio Views or Dynatext) to deliver the information to the enduser.

A DTD describes the markup for the SGML publication data, or“repository”, which may contain legislation, case law, journal articlesand other types of material that are stored in computer files. The filescontain publication data in text form and the markup, which is extrainformation about the text included with the text. An example of amarkup is ‘<BD+>’ which indicates that “the data from this point on isbold”. A further example is

‘<SECTION ID=“CWACT-19950104-SEC-1” LBL=“1”>’. This markup indicatesthat: the data from this point on is part of a section of legislation;the section has an identifier of CWACT-19950104-SEC-1; and the sectionhas a label of “1”.

There are a number of different ways to add markup to data. The firstembodiment adds markup to data using SGML. Alternatively, XML may beused. Still further, in the case of XML being used, an SSM may be used.Even within SGML, there are many ways to add markup to text. Eachparticular way of adding markup within SGML is described by using a DTD.In the first embodiment, the data for publication is marked up using anumber of different DTDs. In particular, the DTDs are used to mark upthe logical structure of the legislation, case law or journal articles.Significant amounts of information about the data for publication isstored in the markup. For example, the markup ‘<SECTIONID=“CWACT-19950104-SEC-1” LBL=“1”>’ provides the following information:the data is a piece of Commonwealth of Australia legislation (indicatedby ‘CW’ at the beginning of the string); the section is part of an Act(‘ACT’ after ‘CW’) and not a regulation; the act is Act No. 104 of 1995(‘19950104’ in the middle of the string), the data is a Section (‘SEC’)within the Act; and it is Section 1 (‘1’ at the end).

The preparation of such DTDs necessitates that the author has a soundknowledge of the data that will be marked up using the DTD. It isespecially important that the underlying structure of the data to bemarked up using the DTD be understood. The process of becomingacquainted with the structure of the data to be marked up is referred tohereinafter as “content analysis”.

In particular, the section-level or schedule-level portion oflegislation is used in the first embodiment. That is, the section-levelportion is preferably the predefined portion of the publication data,which is the smallest piece of information to be tracked. This is unlikeconventional publishing systems. For example, with reference to Table 1,the first embodiment stores every version of Section 6. In this manner,complexity (tracking every word) is reduced by increasing storage.However, unlike example (I) of conventional publishing systems, thefirst embodiment does not lose any pertinent information:

-   -   a) every version of each Act or Regulation is stored;    -   b) the end user can search every version of any section or        schedule at the same time;    -   c) it is easy to know which particular section or schedule has        changed, to track how that particular section or schedule has        changed, and to find the relevant section of the Amending Act or        Regulation that affected the section or schedule;    -   d) if multiple changes have occurred on a particular section or        schedule, every version of the section or schedule can be seen;    -   e) issues like commencement of the latest version of a        particular section or schedule and so-called “Application,        Saving or Transitional Provisions” can easily be recreated;    -   f) it is possible to come to a full understanding of the        legislation just by looking at the data provided through the        first embodiment.

A further advantage of tracking every version of each section orschedule is that it is possible to store some of the information, not inthe markup, but in a database, as noted hereinbefore. This simplifiesthe updating process.

While SGML is a powerful way of storing information, it is not aretrieval medium. Therefore, the stored information needs to beconverted into a format that the end user of the information can access.The first embodiment uses an electronic format for retrieval. For thiselectronic retrieval, a software application called ‘high-end textretrieval software’ is used. Examples of high-end, text-retrievalsoftware applications include Folio Views and Dynatext. In the firstembodiment, Folio Views is used.

Folio Views has its own proprietary markup language, which is not partof the SGML family. A complete guide to the Folio Views markup languageis provided in the text Folio Views Infobase Production Kit UtilitiesManual, Version 3.1, Provo, Utah: Folio Corporation (1 Jun. 1994).Storing the data for publication in SGML allows other retrieval softwareapplications besides Folio Views to be used.

In the first embodiment, a process is implemented to convert the SGMLmarked-up data into the format used by the retrieval softwareapplication. The example given for

Folio Views hereinafter is but one example of the process involved. Theconversion program basically maps the SGML markup to Folio Views markup.For example, for the SGML markup ‘<SECTION ID=“CWACT-19950104-SEC-1”LBL=“1”>’, the conversion process marks all ID's substantively unchangedas Jump Destinations (JD's): ‘<JD: =“CWACT-19950104-SEC-1”>’.

A Keying Guide for Australian Legislation Documents with instructionsfor the conversion process to Folio Views added is provided in AppendixD.

Movement through legal information can be as follows (the flexibilityand scope is largely up to the end user):

-   -   (1) doing research on the subject of fences and boundaries at        the depth fences that are hedges looking for types Acts and        Regulations in jurisdictions NSW and Victoria for the time        period last 20 years;    -   (2) doing research on the subject evidence at depth confession        for types Acts and cases for time period last 12 months; or    -   (3) doing research on type cases with jurisdictions NSW and        Queensland, subject murder and depth statutes dealing with        subject.

The application of legal information to mapped nodes is shown in FIG. 4.However, this is only one of numerous possible applications. Informationfrom medical, technical and scientific areas are all open to theapplication of this invention. This diagram substitutes the technicalterminology of FIG. 3 with legal terms to show the way informationappears according to the first embodiment. Further, FIG. 4 provides anexample of how legal information is navigated by an end user. The usermay be seeking information on the following matters:

-   -   (1) Does NSW legislation on fences presently cover hedge rows        between the boundary of a private property and a public road?    -   (2) If not, have such hedge rows ever come under NSW        legislation?    -   (3) Are there any cases under current law or previous law?    -   (4) How have the cases been interpreted?

Some general assumptions are made about legal information for thepurposes of this example. Broadly, legal information has two mainprimary sources: statute law (including subordinate legislation), andcase law. There is also secondary information such as commentary whichcan be added to aid interpretation. Each of these sources isinterconnected and relevant to the other in terms of both past andpresent information. This may also apply to future information in termsof bills or other forms of uncommenced legislation. It is theassociation of this relevance and interconnection that is advantageousto the end user.

In FIG. 4, the X-, Y-, and Z-axes indicate time (Time), the legislativeprovision (location), and type (eg, legislation=L, cases=C, and journalarticles=J). To simplify the diagram, only three axes are illustrated,however, other axes may be included dependent upon the number ofdimensions of the space. In the first embodiment, the multidimensionalspace also includes another three axes: jurisdiction=U, subject=V, anddepth=W. Thus, the space according to the first embodiment has sixdimensions. In the six-dimensional case, it is possible to move alongeach axis and at the points of intersection change direction, as well asfind and/or follow new or additional information.

The end user begins at legislation (L) along the Z-axis, where theFences 10 and Boundaries Act is located and then selects Section 1 oflegislation (indicated by L allowing the Z-axis) at node 402, as of 1Jan. 1996. The user then follows a path in the legislation through nodes404, 406 and 408 for Sections 2, 3 and 4, respectively, as of that samedate (ie, the Y-axis), to find a definition of the term “fences”. Node408 contains Section 4 at 1 Jan. 1996 which contains the currentdefinition of “fences”. This would provide information in response toabove query (1).

The user then selects Section 4 of the legislation as of 1 Jan. 1995,which in this case is an earlier version of the section prior toamendment, by moving to node 410 (along the X-axis). This providesinformation about the prior law for above query (2). The user can thenmove to other information on Section 4 as of 1 Jan. 1995 by going tonodes 412 and 414 for case and journal article information,respectively, along the Z-axis. For example, a case on the earlierSection 4 might be identified at node 412 and articles on interpretationof Section 4 at node 414. The foregoing is only one possible routethrough the multidimensional space of information. Other morecomplicated and interrelated pathways involving axes U, V and W arepossible. For example, the user can move to axis U (jurisdiction) andcompare the definition in Section 4 of New South Wales with that inanother jurisdiction (eg, Victoria).

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of electronicpublishing according to the first embodiment. A data source 602,preferably for legal information, is provided. In steps 604 and 606,base data and new data are input from the data source 602, respectively,and in step 608 the data is captured. The DTDs 610 are input to step612. The DTDs 610 include Act.DTD, Acts.DTD, Reg.DTD, Regs.DTD, andCommon.ELT, which are shown in detail in Appendix B. In step 612, theDTDs 610 are applied to the captured data from step 608. In step 614,the data is coded in SGML, including the Time Base Code. In step 616,the data is consolidated. As indicated in FIG. 6, steps/items 602 to 616comprise the (first) data conversion stage.

A data management database 620 is provided to step 618. The database isbased on a master table and a textblock table (see Appendix C forfurther detail). The output of step 616 is also provided to step 618. Instep 618, the data is consolidated; the data is stored as multipleversions, if applicable, and uses the predefined portions of data (ie,textblocks). In step 622, a filter program(s) is applied to theconsolidated data to convert the data from SGML to the relevant formatfor the retrieval software application, including Folio Views, DynaText,Topic, HTML, and the like. Steps/item 618 to 622 comprise the (second)data management stage.

The filtered data output by step 622 can then be provided to step 624.In step 624, the filter consolidated data is imported to the textretrieval software. In step 626, the data is provided to the deliverymedium, which may include CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic tape, electronic onlineservices, and other media. The output of this is the end user product628. Steps/item 624 to 628 comprise the (third) product manufacturestage.

The first embodiment is preferably practiced using a conventionalgeneral-purpose computer, such as the one shown in FIG. 5, whereinprocesses for providing and managing the information are carried outusing software executing on the computer. In particular, the legislationdatabase, the database and the DTD(s) may be stored after a filteringprocess on a CD-ROM used by the computer system, and the computer systemis operated using Folio View. The computer system 500 includes acomputer 502, a video display 516, and input devices 518. A number ofoutput devices, including line printers, laser printers, plotters, andother reproduction devices, can be connected to the computer 502.Further, the computer system 500 can be connected to one or more othercomputers using an appropriate communication channel such as a modemcommunications path, a computer network, or the like.

The computer 502 consists of a central processing unit 504 (simply,processor hereinafter), an input/output interface 508, a video interface510, a memory 506 which can include random access memory (RAM) andread-only memory (ROM), and one or more storage devices generallyrepresented by a block 512 in FIG. 5. The storage device(s) 512 canconsist of one or more of the following: a floppy disc, a hard discdrive, a magneto-optical disc drive, CD-ROM or any other of a number ofnon-volatile storage devices well known to those skilled in the art.Each of the components 504 to 512 is typically connected to one or moreof the other devices via a bus 514 that in turn can consist of data,address, and control buses.

The video interface 510 is connected to the video display 516 andprovides video signals from the computer 502 for display on the videodisplay 516. User input to operate the computer 502 can be provided byone or more input devices. For example, a operator can use the keyboard518 and/or a pointing device such as the mouse to provide input to timecomputer 502. Exemplary computers on which the embodiment can bepracticed include Macintosh personal computers, Sun SparcStations, andIBM-PC/ATs and compatibles.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the computer system 500 canbe connected in a networked environment by means of an appropriatecommunications channel. For example, a local area network could beaccessed by means of an appropriate network adaptor (not shown)connected to the computer, or the Internet or an Intranet could beaccessed by means of a modem connected to the I/O interface or an ISDNcard connected to the computer 502 by the bus 514. In such a networkedconfiguration, the electronic publishing system can be implementedpartially on the user's computer 500 and a remote computer (not shown)coupled over the network. The legislation database, the database and theDTD(s) can be implemented on the remote computer and the computer system500 can be operated using Folio View.

The operation of the first embodiment is described with reference to thescreen shots shown in FIGS. 7 to 17. All screen shots are derived fromthe first embodiment which uses Folio Views as the retrieval software.Broadly, FIGS. 7 to 15 are screen shots illustrating navigation ormovement around the information. FIGS. 16 and 17 are screen shots thatshow search capacities.

FIG. 7 shows the opening screen 700, which the end user sees when theprogram is started. The interface is a standard windows interfacefeaturing drop menus that provide access to all functions. The functionsinclude basic searching and customised search templates such as the onesshown in FIGS. 16 and 17 that allow users to exploit time-based andmultidimensional searching.

The title screen 702 is presented when the process is commenced and isthe first screen. A customisable toolbar 704 is provided for searchingfunctions. Also, drop menus 706 are provided above the toolbar 704. Inthe lower portion of the screen 700 contains a status bar 708 showinginformation relevant to searching. The Start and Main menu buttons 710in FIG. 7 are both navigational tools. The Start button takes a new userto information providing help on how to use the invention. The Main Menubutton takes the end user to the menu shown in the second screen shot ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 8 shows a main selection menu 800. At this menu 800, the user cansee the currency of the total information. The user is also able to makebroad choices as to the type of information that the person might liketo see. All items preceded by bullet points in the menu are jump links802 which lead the user to further menus for the items selected. Thejump links 802 also provide a uniform or consistent form of movement.Thus, if searching the Social Security Act, selecting the first jumplink “Find an Act” takes the user to the next screen which would be the“Act Name Menu”.

FIG. 9 shows the “Act Name Menu” screen 900. In this menu 900, allletter buttons are links 904 to Acts beginning with the letter selected.That is, the jump links 904 allow access to sub-menus for Acts with thecorresponding selected letter. If “S” is clicked, this leads to the“Acts beginning with S” menu (see FIG. 10) where an entry linked to themost current version of the Social Security Act 1991 appears. A similarmenu may be provided for Regulations. Further, locational information902 is provided in the upper portion of the screen 900.

FIG. 10 illustrates acts beginning with “S”, as selected in the screen900 of FIG. 9. By selecting jump link 1002, the Social Security Act canbe accessed. Likewise, other acts in this screen 1000 may be accessedusing the respective jump link (e.g. Safety, Rehabilitation andCompensation Act.

Assuming the appropriate jump link 1002 is selected in FIG. 10, FIG. 11shows how the beginning of the Social Security Act appears in screen1100, and the buttons that link the user to the provisions of the Act.This is the start of the most current version of the Social Security Actpreferably. From this screen, provisions of the Act can be accessed. Byaccessing the Table of Provisions box, the Table of Provisions menu canbe accessed. FIG. 12 shows the Table of Provisions screen 1200, andillustrates how a specific provision, say Section 4, can be accessedagain using links 1206. Different sections of the Act (e.g. ss 3, 4 and6A) may be accessed as well using corresponding jump links. Again,location information 1202 is provided in the upper portion of thescreen. A return button 1204 is also provided that provides access backto the beginning of the Act.

FIG. 13 shows screen 1300 containing the Time Base Toolbar 1302, whichpreferably provides eight buttons for accessing time based information.This Toolbar 1302 is not a feature of Folio Views, but is a designedaddition added to Folio Views by the first embodiment. It is madepossible by the way in which the publication data is coded. The SectionInformation button 1304 takes the user to an overview of information.The Previous, Next and All buttons 1306 allows the user to have accessto the previous, next and all versions of the relevant section. TheSubject, Jurisdiction and Related Info buttons 1308 allow the user toview and access sections dealing with a similar subject, or similarsections in other jurisdictions, or related information such as casesand articles on or about the section. This Toolbar 1302 allows a user tocycle through previous and subsequent versions of sections and as shownin screens in FIGS. 14 and 15 to refer to the text of sections amendingthe section. As well, the user can also call to the screen all versionsof the section as one view (or display) using the “ALL” button.

FIG. 14 illustrates a screen 1400 which appears when the user selectsthe Section information button 1402 (button 1304 in FIG. 13). Theresulting popup screen illustrates the time period or date range 1404covered by this version of section 4. It also indicates the Year andNumber jump link 1406 to text of the amending act which created thisversion of section 4.

FIG. 15 illustrates a screen 1500 which appears when the user selectsthe previous button 1502 (not shown—it is located behind the popupscreen), which corresponds to previous button 1306 of FIG. 13. Thisshows an earlier version of section 4 that the user can access by usingthe previous button 1502. The pop-up screen indicates that this versioncovers a different time span than that shown in FIG. 14.

The screen shots in FIGS. 7 to 15 display a step-through ornavigation-based way of locating information. There is also the moredirect approach of searching for terms using text retrieval. The screenshots in FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate such searching provided by the firstembodiment. Screen 1600 shown in FIG. 16 provides a customised searchtemplate 1602 that includes a time base option allowing a user to searchfor versions of a section, for example. Screen 1700 shown in FIG. 17illustrates a customised search template 1702 for case law whichincludes a time base option connecting cases to legislation at aparticular date, for example. Again, the ability to relate such to timeand then to mix and match types of information from different sources(jurisdictions) is a feature provided by the coding technique used forthe data and not the Folio Views software used to deliver the data tothe end user.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment stores all the information in a single repositorywhich is marked up in SGML or XML. The information is divided in thatrepository into suitable pieces or blocks of text (as described in thefirst embodiment) and any relevant markup marks up a whole suitablepiece or block of text by (a) choosing suitable pieces or blocks oftext, and (b) demanding that relevant markup belongs to a whole suitablepiece or block of text, the following becomes possible. A relationaldatabase consisting of records consisting of fields can be created withone and only one record per suitable piece or block of text where theactual text of each suitable piece or block of text is the content ofone filed of the above record and where each item of the markup isassigned its own field in the above record.

For example, a version of Section 6 of the Income Tax Assessment Act(ITAA) 1936 may be stored as a record in the above relational database,The first field of that record contains the actual text of that versionof Section 6. The next field identifies it as Section 6 of the ITAA, thenext field gives the date this version came into being, the next fieldcontains the section of the amending act that created this particularversion, the next field contains the day this version became superseded,another field contains the subject(s) this version addresses, anotherfield contains the case(s) that have addressed this version of section 6and so on. Storing the data in this way allows multidimensional databasetechniques to be applied to the data.

An XML DTD for implementing the second embodiment is set forth inAppendix E. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that thesecond embodiment may be readily implemented in view of the foregoingdescription of the first embodiment, which is not repeated here for thepurpose of brevity, and in view of the accompanying DTD set out inAppendix E.

The foregoing only describes a small number of embodiments of theinvention, and modifications and changes apparent to those skilled inthe art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. For example, the embodiments of the invention havebeen described with reference to SGML. The embodiments may alternativelybe practiced with the extensible markup language (XML) as well. Also,the embodiments may alternatively be practiced with a Style SheetMechanism (SSM) instead of, or in addition to, one or more DTDs.

A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in amultidimensional space containing an electronic publication formed frompredefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup languageare disclosed. In the following description, numerous specific detailsare set forth. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artin view of this disclosure that changes may be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. In other instances, wellknown features have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe invention. Whilst the invention may be preferably practised on flatfiles, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that theinvention may also be practised on databases. A database may beconstructed from sets of flat file records. A relational database is acollection of related tables, each table being a set of flat fileshaving the same structure. The method includes the step of: displaying aselected one of the predefined portions in a first display region. Thedisplay region preferably takes the form of an area of real estate on acomputer screen (henceforth referred to as the “content frame”). Themethod also includes the step of displaying a view into a primary axisof the multidimensional space in which the displayed preferred portionis clearly marked. This second area of the computer screen shall bereferred to as the “reference frame”. Each frame has an associated“anchor”, which is a title bar clearly indicating the nature of the viewcurrently displayed in the frame. The reference anchor also containstools for navigating the displayed axis. The method also includes thestep of displaying a point on a primary axis of the multidimensionalspace for the displayed predefined portion.

The method may be enhanced by displaying a second point on a second axiswhich relates to the first axis at the first point. The second axisrepresents time-based versions of the selected one of the predefinedportions. Alternatively, the second axis represents amending legislationthat was applied to the selected one of the predefined portions. Inanother example, the second axis represents case law that applied theselected one of the predefined portions. In further example, the secondaxis represents annotations to the selected one of the predefinedportions. In a yet further example, the second axis represents entriesof a subject index that are covered in the selected one of thepredefined portions.

The embodiment of the present invention allows for a primary axis (thecombined hierarchical/sequential or normal axis). A “base node” may beselected by navigating the primary axis. The method then allows for oneof a number of potential axes (associated with the base node) to beselected and subsequently navigated. The selection is accomplished bymeans of activating “links” in the displayed base-node. The referenceframe is redrawn to give a view of the members of the selected axis andone member of that axis is displayed. At any point it is possible toreturn to the primary axis and select a new base node. Alternatively,the currently displayed base node may be chosen as a new base node fromwhich subsequent axes are derived. In this manner, any number of axesmay be displayed and navigated without increasing the complexity of thescreen view (i.e. only two frames are ever required). It is this qualitywhich allows a complex dataset to be navigated by a non-specialist enduser.

By way of example, a user may select a first node, corresponding to aprovision, in the multidimensional space. The first node's locator isdisplayed in a first anchor to provide the user with a first point ofreference. If the user is interested in different versions of theprovision, the user may then move to second node on an orthogonal axis,being the Versions axis. The first anchor is updated and displays thelocator of the second node. A second anchor displays the locator of thefirst node. The second anchor also displays the relationship between thefirst node and the second node. The user is provided with informationwhich indicates the original provision that was being studied, theprovision currently being studied and the current provision'srelationship to the original provision. Thus, the first and secondanchors and the information provided therein enable the user to navigatethe multidimensional space.

Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawingsto steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, thosesteps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the samefunction(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

The principles of the preferred method described herein have generalapplicability to electronic publishing. However, for ease ofexplanation, the steps of the preferred method are described withreference to navigating in a MALT publication. However, it is notintended that the present invention be limited to the described method.It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a publicationcould include a document or a database. The invention may apply to anyhierarchical XML data where any of the nodes may change independently ofother nodes in the hierarchy. Typical examples might include manuals andnewspapers. For example, the invention may have application to theproduction and display of aircraft manuals. In this case, each nodewould be a set of maintenance instructions for a part or assembly. Theaxes might be part number; category (electrical, structural, etc.);location (Boeing 737, wing, wingtip assembly, eddy baffle, securingflange AX-703); airline (United, QANTAS); language (English, French).Since each commercial aircraft is in effect a one-off construct, thebasic information needs to be reconfigured for each plane, each airline,etc.

Before proceeding with a description of the embodiments, a brief reviewof terminology is discussed hereinafter. A dataset refers to thecomplete set of data that is to be navigated. A dataset has a completeset of discrete objects called nodes. The dataset may be viewed as asparse multidimensional matrix, as is produced using the MALT publishingmethod. In the example of this specification, the dataset preferablyrefers to a body of legislation designed for point in time searching.

A node preferably corresponds to a particular legislative provision at aparticular date. A base node is a particular node from which one or moreviewing axes may be derived.

A viewing axis is an ordered set of nodes derived from a single basenode. The base node itself may or may not constitute part of the axis.For example, given a particular provision in time, three possibleviewing axes are: the set of all provisions in force on the same date asthe base node; the set of versions of the base provision in time; andthe set of amending provisions most recently applied to the baseprovision. Further viewing axes may be practised, and may include caselaw that applied the provision, annotations to the provision and entriesof a subject index that are covered in the provision.

A provision, for the purposes of this system, is a unit of legislationhaving a heading and/or content, but not including text belonging to anysub-provision that is a predefined portion of text. A provision may bean Act, a schedule, a chapter, a section or other legislative unit. Aprovision has a scope in time, such that when a provision is amended, anew provision is created. A provision corresponds to a set of nodes,each node corresponding to a range of dates in the scope of theprovision.

Scope refers to a period of time during which a provision is in force.Thus, a given scope is usually expressed as start and end dates. Aprovision's scope is determined by the dates on which the provisioncommenced, was amended and/or was repealed.

A locator is an identifier that is used to locate a particular node. Forexample, a locator may be a date, or a position such as the name of anAct and a section number.

Multi-Axis Viewing Interface

Using the publication of legislation as an example, a provision isdefined as being an amendable unit of legislation. At any given moment,the body of active legislation can be divided into provisions.Provisions also have a scope in time, so that when a provision isamended, the current provision goes out of scope and a new provision iscreated. The nodes of the dataset in this example are provisions with anassociated date. Two locators are required to specify a particular nodeuniquely: a position (such as act and section number) and a date.

There are a number of viewing axes associated with each node. Asindicated in the explanation of terminology above, a viewing axis isdefined as an ordered set of nodes that can be derived from the currentnode. When XML data is converted to a series of flat files, viewing axesare derived from the current node as a result of an intersection betweentwo flat files. Two flat files intersect if common entries are containedin the fields of the respective flat files. For example, a legislationflat file may contain a field “Identifiers of cases that apply thisprovision”. The legislation flat file shares a common entry with a caselaw flat file. Alternatively, the legislation flat file may contain afield “subjects covered in the provision”. In this example, thelegislation flat file shares a common entry with a subject index flatfile. Alternatively, an amending legislation flat file may have a field“Identifiers of provisions amended by this provision” and share a commonentry with the legislation flat file.

In a preferred example, seven such viewing axes are:

-   -   Sequential ( . . . ; s 26; s 27; s 27A; . . . ),    -   Hierarchical ( . . . ; Corporations Act 1989; Part 2; Division        2.1; s 27),    -   Temporal (the set of versions of the current provision in time),    -   Source (the set of provisions which amend the current        provision),    -   Case law (cases that apply the current provision),    -   Annotations (annotations to the current provision), and    -   Subject (Entries of a subject index that are covered in the        current provision).        The above axes are orthogonal in the sense that none can be        directly derived from another. Thus, the temporal axis cannot be        derived from the sequential axis. Moreover, members of the        temporal axis are not simply those provisions sharing the same        locator as the current provision. As a result of renumbering,        members of the same temporal axis may possibly have widely        differing locations. While the example uses two locators and        four viewing axes, the MALTweb interface is capable of handling        as many locators and axes as required.

Having utilised MALT to construct a set of data encapsulating the aboverelationships, the problem is how to access this data in a meaningfulway. To provide an untrained user with full multi-axis access to MALTtype data whilst maintaining a consistent look and feel throughout, aview consisting of a two frame screen is provided.

FIG. 18 is a screenshot 1800 depicting a section of legislation inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. A content frame 1810displays the content of the current node. In essence, this frame 1810constitutes a known portion of display “real estate”. In the example ofFIG. 18, the node corresponds to Section 59 of the CommonwealthCorporations Act 1989 and the node has a scope of 16 Oct. 1995 onwards.The scope indicates the time during which the provision is in force. Thecontent anchor 1805 of the content frame 1810 displays the locators forthe current content provision in a user friendly form, such as:

Corporations Act 1989 (Cth): s 59 Scope: 16 Oct. 1995 Onwards

Situated above the content anchor 1805 is a reference frame 1820, whichcontains a set of links 1821 corresponding to the members of a viewingaxis associated with the current base node. Reference markers 1823indicate which of the links 1821 is currently selected. In the Normalview, the content node shown in the content frame is always the same asthe base node for the reference frame. In the Version view, the contentnode and base node are initially the same, but deviate when a differentversion is selected. In the Source view, the base node is being amendedand the content node is one of the amending provisions.

The reference frame 1820 has a corresponding reference anchor 1815,which describes the current viewing axis and provides buttons 1816, 1818for navigating the sequential axis and button 1817 for accessing higherlevels of the hierarchy. These levels can also be accessed via the links1821 in the reference frame. In the example, the reference anchor 1815indicates that the user is being shown a normal view of s59, as in forceon 20 Jul. 2000. This view also shows the search mode, in which the text“exercise of jurisdiction” has been located. The buttons 1812, 1813allow access to the next or previous occurrence of this text, whilstbutton 1814 cancels the search. The “hits” links 1822 in the referenceframe allow rapid access to occurrences of the search text in otherparts of the document. In this respect, the search mode acts very muchlike a separate viewing axis. The highlighting 1806 indicates theselected text. Finally, the links 1807, 1808 allow access to the otherviewing axes (in this case, Versions and Amendments).

Where appropriate, the reference anchor 1815 may indicate the base nodeof the viewing axis. The base node is the node from which the viewingaxis is derived. For example, the reference anchor 2015 of FIG. 20,which shows a Source axis view of the same provision depicted in FIG.18, displays the following information:

Provisions Amending (Effective 16 Oct. 1995) Corporations Act 1989(Cth): s 59

This indicates that the Source axis being viewed by the user is derivedfrom the base provision: Corporations Act, s59 [16 Oct. 1995 onwards].The content anchor 2005 details the amending provision, which in thisexample is Corporations Legislation Amdt Act 1994 (Cth):Sch 1.

The relationship of the base node and the content node depends on theview. In the Normal axis view, consisting of the sequential andhierarchical axes, the base node and the content node are always thesame. In the Versions axis view, the base node and the content node mayor may not be the same.

A view is, therefore, defined as the display of a particular contentnode in relation to a specified axis. Each view may be uniquelyidentified from the following: the current content node, the currentviewing axis, and the base node of the viewing axis. To further help theuser in distinguishing the different viewing axes, the reference framelinks may optionally vary in colour, content and indenting style amongthe views.

FIG. 19 shows a Version axis view 1900 of the provision depicted in FIG.18. The content anchor 1905 indicates that the provision being displayedis, in fact, an earlier version of the provision displayed in FIG. 18.Thus, the information shown in the content frame 1910 has a differentscope from the information shown in content frame 1810 of FIG. 18.Closer examination of the information of the content frame 1910 and theinformation of content frame 1910 indicates that amendments have in factbeen made between the two versions of the provision.

The reference frame 1920 of FIG. 19 indicates that there are twoversions of the provision, a first version with a scope of 1 Jan. 1994to 15 Oct. 1995 and a second version with a scope of 16 Oct. 1995 to 31Dec. 2001. Each version of the provision is a distinct node on theVersion axis. The reference anchor 1915 indicates that the user isnavigating along the Versions axis view of section 59.

FIG. 20 shows a Source axis view 2000 of the provision underconsideration. The reference anchor 2015 of FIG. 20 indicates to theuser that the material being displayed relates to provisions amendingthe Corporations Act 1989 (CTH); s 59. The reference frame 2020indicates that there are three relevant nodes 2021, 2022, 2023 on thesource axis. Each node corresponds to a provision which amends thecurrent provision. The amending provisions are not necessarilysequential and may be non-consecutive and/or in different schedulesand/or in different Acts. The content anchor 2005 indicates that thecurrent information being shown is Schedule 1, Part 1, Item 15 of theCorporations Legislation Amendment Act 1994, corresponding to the firstnode 2021 shown in the reference frame 2020. The content of the amendingact is displayed in the content frame 2010.

Thus, the multi-access viewing interface provides a user with contentand reference components. Anchors uniquely identify the content node byposition and date, and the viewing axis by base node and axis type.Furthermore, the reference frame is capable of displaying multipleviewing axes for a given base node, as illustrated in FIGS. 18-20.

Higher Level Scoping

The MALT concept encapsulates the ability to store the contents of asparse multidimensional matrix in a set of flat file records. Aspreviously defined, the scope of a provision is a time period duringwhich the given provision is in force. A problem arises relating toscoping a record which encompasses a number of lower level records.

Consider as an example legislation marked up for point in timesearching. The body of the legislation consists of provisions (ornodes), where each provision is an amendable unit of legislation. Forthe purposes of this example, each provision possesses the followingfour properties:

-   -   A single parent, or container provision in which the current        provision resides. [The children of a provision are those        provisions which have the current provision as the parent.]    -   A position within a provision's parent, and (optionally) an        associated locator (eg. the fourth child provision of an Act may        have the locator “Chapter 2A”).    -   A scope in time (i.e. start and end dates).    -   The content of the provision.        The provisions are divided into three classes:    -   A single root node, which has no parent, but from which all        other nodes ultimately descend;    -   A set of terminal nodes, which have no children; and    -   A set of higher level nodes which are neither the root node nor        terminal.        The legislation can then be said to form a tree descending from        the root node and containing the terminal nodes at the ends of        the root node's branches.

The scope of a terminal node is the period of time between the terminalnode's start date and end date, inclusive. The root node is deemed to bealways in scope. The scope of a node which is neither a terminal nodenor a root node is problematic.

For example, a chapter may encompass many sections, but the chapter'sactual content, viewed in isolation as a record, is simply the chapter'stitle, including locator if present, and any notes or other attachmentsthat apply to the chapter as a whole. All other content is containedindirectly via the chapter's descendant provisions, such as parts,sections and the like.

Difficulty arises in determining the scope of the chapter node. In onesense, the scope of the chapter node is the sum of the scopes of thechapter node's descendants. A question then arises if, for example, thechapter's title is altered. The same applies to the case in which theabovementioned notes or other attachments are altered.

One solution is to create a duplicate chapter with the altered title.While effective, this method has some major drawbacks. Firstly, itinvolves a great deal of unnecessary duplication of material. Since eachchild provision can have only one parent; new copies of every sub-levelhave to be made. The scope of both the original and duplicate sublevelsthen have to be split at the date of the chapter's title change. This inturn requires each sub-level to behave as though amended, even thoughthe amendment only applies to the title of an ancestor level.

A better solution is to create a new terminal sub-level of the chapterwhich contains just the title and associated text. This sub-level canthen be scoped independently of the main level, and other sub-levels areunaffected. The sub-levels retain the same parent as the chapter levelitself was not affected by the amendment.

However, this still leaves open the question of what to do with thescope of the chapter level. Clearly a chapter, like any other provision,can be created or repealed. Thus, an amendment such as “repeal Chapter2A” should end the scope of the chapter level as well as all of thechapter's descendants.

The editors, however, may wish to leave a stub entry to mark the placeof the former chapter thus:

Chapter 2A Repealed

The scope of the stub clearly lies outside the scope of the chapter.There are three possible solutions:

-   -   allow the [repealed] entry (which stands in place of a normal        title) to live inside the chapter, even though the entry is out        of the chapter's scope;    -   extend the scope of the chapter to encompass the scope of the        stub; or    -   create a new chapter level containing just the stub.        The first option creates significant inefficiencies in the        design, since the scope of a sub-level cannot be assumed to lie        within the scope of the sub-level's parent. The other two        options give rise to potential conflicts between the stub and        possible replacement chapters.

Having delegated the title and other general notes to their ownsublevels, all content has effectively been removed from the chapter.However, a chapter level is still required, as removing higher levelsmakes all terminal nodes direct children of the root. This in turnseverely impacts on the usefulness of the data when mapped to ahierarchical form, such as XML.

In addition, a higher level does contain one property, namely one ormore locators (“Chapter 2A” in the example). While this property cantheoretically be delegated to yet another sub-level, the practicalimplications are significant. In particular, the locator reflects theordering of the chapter amongst its siblings. If, for example, anamendment renumbers chapter 2A to chapter 4, this gives rise to theissue of whether the chapter comes before or after chapter 3 in either aflat file or in XML. For this reason, the locator is the sole propertypreserved by a higher level node throughout the higher level node'sscope. If the position is changed, then a new level (and sub-levels) iscreated.

This still leaves the problem of the scope of a higher level. Forexample, if Chapter 2A is repealed and a new, unrelated chapter 2Aimmediately takes the place of the repealed Chapter 2A, a problem ispotentially presented as to two overlapping scopes for the sameprovision. The scope of the original node has to be terminated,otherwise there are two Chapter 2As in scope contemporaneously. Theco-existence of two Chapter 2As poses a detrimental impact on theability to navigate and search the legislation under consideration. Inthe situation in which the original Chapter 2A has a repeal stub, theoriginal Chapter 2A's scope may overlap the new Chapter 2A, since thestub may continue indefinitely in time. Among many possibilities, arepeal stub may be provided while Chapter 2A does not exist.

Other problems include: repeal or substitution of a higher level node;renumbering/relocation of a higher level node; renaming (withoutrenumbering/relocation) of a higher level node; elevation or demotion ofa higher level node within the hierarchy, e.g. changing a part to achapter or a division to a subdivision; and insertion/removal of anintermediate level heading node, requiring that nodes which follow andare/were, according to their type, inferior to that heading nodebecome/cease to be children of that node.

In order to resolve these problems, the following design rule isapplied: Higher level nodes may have neither scope nor content. In otherwords, a non-terminal node must be a container only. A non-terminalnode's only properties are a parent indicator, a position within theparent, and (optionally) a locator. Any content notionally belonging tosuch a node, such as a chapter title, is assigned to a new (terminal)child node. A (terminal) child node may contain a label, which ispreferably a title, but can be or include other data related to theparent node. The new child node preserves the scope of the title, so(for example) a single chapter may possess a number of (temporallydisjoint) title nodes.

Higher level scoping has a number of surprising but useful consequences.In particular, a higher level provision is, in itself, not subject toamendment. Thus, an instruction such as “Repeal Chapter 2A” actuallyterminates the scope of all of Chapter 2A's constituent terminal nodes.The chapter node, having no scope of its own, is unaffected.

Additionally, the previously described problem pertaining to theoverlapping scope of the 2A repeal stub disappears. Embodiments of theinvention utilise the following approaches. When Chapter 2A is repealed,the associated scope of all terminal nodes within Chapter 2A isterminated. In a first embodiment, a new Chapter 2A is enactedimmediately after the original chapter is terminated. The new Chapter 2Ahas an associated scope commencing on the day after which the originalChapter 2A was repealed. In a second embodiment, a repeal stub isintroduced. A repeal stub in the preferred embodiment is a title with anattribute marking this title as being of the type “repeal stub”. Therepeal stub has an associated scope with a start date corresponding tothe date after which Chapter 2A was repealed. The repeal stub has theChapter 2A node as a parent. If a new Chapter 2A is later enacted, thescope of the repeal stub is terminated and the scope of the terminalnodes of the new Chapter 2A will begin on the day after the end date ofthe repeal stub's scope.

Thus, a request “for Chapter 2A on date X” returns a description ofChapter 2A that was valid on that date. In the event that the request isfor a date on which the chapter is repealed, the fact that the chapteris not in force, having been repealed on or before that date, will bereturned.

A portion of Document Type Definition (DTD) code which is used to enablehigher level scoping appears in Tables 2 to 8 below:

TABLE 2 <!-- ######################################################### ENTITY: hlev-id  PURPOSE: Concatenation of the elements that make theIdentification of a higher level element. Only to be used for levels inwhich the <desc> can be MALTed — for levels in which the whole levelshould be MALTed (ie, section, reg, schedule) and for their sub-levels,use %lev-id;.########################################################### --> <!ENTITY% hlev-id  “(target*, label?, (desc, %amendments;)*)” >

TABLE 3 <!ELEMENT act  (%hlev-id;,  (%hnote; | %raw;)*,  (longtitle,%amendments;)+,  preamble*,  (chapter* | part* | section*),  (schedule*| include+)*,  hist* ) > <!ATTLIST act  juris  (cth|nsw|vic|qld|sa|wa|tas|act|nt|imp)   #REQUIRED  year   CDATA  #REQUIRED  number   CDATA   #REQUIRED >

TABLE 4 <!ELEMENT regulations  (%hlev-id;,  (%hnote; | %raw;)*,  (chapter* | part* | reg*),   (schedule* | include+)*   ) > <!ATTLISTregulations  juris   (cth|nsw|vic|qld|sa|wa|tas|act|nt|imp)   #REQUIRED year   CDATA   #REQUIRED  number   CDATA   #REQUIRED > <!ELEMENTchapter  (%hlev-id;,  (%hnote;)*,  (((%secreg;)*,part*) | article+)) ><!ATTLIST chapter  id   CDATA   #IMPLIED  next-id   CDATA   #IMPLIED >

TABLE 5 <!ELEMENT part  (%hlev-id;,  hist*,  (((%secreg;)*, division*) | (article+ | item+ | clause+) |  (guide+) |  (unconverted+))) ><!ATTLIST part  id   CDATA   #IMPLIED  next-id   CDATA   #IMPLIED >

TABLE 6 <!ELEMENT division  (%hlev-id;,  (p | %hnote;)*,  (((%secreg;)*,subdivn*) |   (clause*, item*))) > <!ATTLIST division  id   CDATA  #IMPLIED  next-id   CDATA   #IMPLIED >

TABLE 7 <!ELEMENT subdivn  (%hlev-id;,  (%hnote;)*,  ((%secreg;)+ |clause+)) > <!ATTLIST subdivn  id   CDATA   #IMPLIED  next-id   CDATA  #IMPLIED >

TABLE 8 <!--##################################################################### ELEMENT: desc  PURPOSE: Defines the “description” of a level. ATTRIBUTES:   %date-atts; - defines the start and end dates for thisversion of the description.#####################################################################--> <!ELEMENT desc  (#PCDATA | %refs; | %effect; | quote)* > <!ATTLISTdesc  %date-atts; >The DTD has been altered such that scoping is transferred from thehigher level nodes to terminal nodes.

Consider an example consisting of an Act with two chapters, the secondchapter containing two sections, as shown by the system 2100 of FIG. 21.A root node 2110 represents the Act. The root node 2110 has no parent,and all other nodes descend from the root node 2110. The first chapterof the Act is represented by a higher level node 2120. As a higher levelnode, node 2120 has neither scope nor content. Node 2120 has thefollowing properties: a parent, being the Act node 2110; a positionwithin the parent node 2110, being 1; and an optional locator, being“Chapter 1”. Node 2120 has two descendant nodes 2122, 2124. Node 2122has the following properties: a parent, being the node 2120 identifiedby its locator “Chapter 1”; a position within the parent node 2120,being 1; an optional locator, being “Chapter 1 Description”; scope,being 1 Jan. 1998 onwards; and content relating to the title or textualdescription of the first chapter of the Act under consideration. Node2124 has the following properties: a parent, being the node 2120identified by its locator “Chapter 1”; a position within the parent node2120, being 2; an optional locator, being “Chapter 1 Note”; scope, being1 Jan. 1998 onwards; and content providing general notes or commentspertaining to the first chapter of the Act under consideration.

A second higher level node 2130 represents the second chapter of theAct. Node 2130 has two sections. Node 2130 has the following properties:parent, being the Act node 2110; a position within the parent node 2110,being 2; and an optional locator, being “Chapter 2A”. Node 2130 has fivechild nodes: 2132, 2134, 2136, 2140 and 2150, each of which is aterminal node in this example. Node 2132 has the properties: parent,being Chapter 2A; a position within the parent, being 1; an optionallocator, being “Chapter 2A description”; scope, being 1 Jan. 1998-30Jun. 1998; and content, being “Company Registration”. Node 2134 has theproperties: parent, being Chapter 2A; a position within the parent,being 2; an optional locator, being “Chapter 2A description”; scope,being 1 Jul. 1998 onwards; and content, being “Registering a Company”.Node 2136 has the properties: parent, being Chapter 2A; a positionwithin the parent, being 3; an optional locator, being “Chapter 2Anote”; scope; and content. Node 2140 has the properties: parent, beingChapter 2A; a position within the parent, being 4; an optional locator,being “Section 11”; scope; and content. Node 2150 has the properties:parent, being Chapter 2A; a position within the parent, being 5; anoptional locator, being “Section 12”; scope; and content.

The different scopes of nodes 2132 and 2134 allow nodes 2132, 2134 toco-exist, without overlapping. Nodes 2132, 2134 may share the samelocator, but the combination of locator and scope uniquely identifiesthe nodes. Nodes 2132, 2134 reflect the amendment of the title ofChapter 2A from “Company Registration” to “Registering a Company”. Thescopes of nodes 2132, 2134 indicate that the amendment came into effecton 1 Jul. 1998.

In accordance with a further embodiment, higher level scoping isextended to facilitate commentaries, subject indices and similarmaterial. When considering legislation, any amendment results in theproduction of a modified portion. However, when consideringcommentaries, two types of amendment to the commentary are possible. Inthe first scenario, corresponding to the legislation example, the scopeof the current predefined portion of commentary is terminated and a newpredefined portion is provided. The new predefined portion has a scopecommencing on the day after the expiration of the current predefinedportion. In the second possible scenario, the current predefined portionof the commentary is amended without a second predefined portion beingcreated.

The scope of commentary portions is extended to include three dates: astart date, an update date and an end date. Referring to FIG. 22A, ascreen shot 2260 shows a commentary. The commentary was created on 1Jul. 2000, as seen from the amendment bar 2265. The commentary has thefollowing scope properties: start date of 1 Jul. 2000, no update dateand no end date. FIG. 22B shows a screen shot 2270 of the commentary ofFIG. 22A at a later date. The amendment bar 2275 indicates that thecommentary was last updated on 1 Sep. 2000. Thus, the scope of thecommentary now has a start date of 1 Jul. 2000, an update date of 1 Sep.2000 and no end date. FIG. 22C shows a further screen shot 2280 of thecommentary of FIGS. 22A and 22B at a yet later date. The amendment bar2284 indicates that at least one further amendment has been applied tothe commentary since the update of 1 Sep. 2000 indicated at 2275 in FIG.22B. The amendment bar 2285 of FIG. 22C shows that the last update dateof the commentary is 1 Oct. 2000. Therefore, the scope properties of thecommentary now read: First portion: start date of 1 Jul. 2000, end dateof 30 Sep. 2000; Second portion: start date of 1 Oct. 2000, and no enddate.

In a further embodiment, XML data may be divided into predefinedportions and stored as a collection of flat files. In an example, theflat files take the form of a relational database. There is a one to onecorrespondence between the XML data and the relational database. Thehierarchy of the XML data is expressed via the implementation of higherlevel scoping. A single record is provided with an identifier and otherterminal nodes are provided in which to store the remainder of theinformation.

The process for navigating in a multidimensional space containing anelectronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language can be implemented using a computerprogram product in conjunction with a computer system 2300 as shown inFIG. 23. In particular, the process for navigating in a multidimensionalspace containing an electronic publication formed from predefinedportions of text-based data encoded using a markup language can beimplemented as software, or computer readable program code, executing onthe computer system 2300.

Similarly, the process for publishing an electronic publication formedfrom predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markuplanguage may also be implemented using a computer program product inconjunction with the computer system 2300 shown in FIG. 23.

The computer system 2300 includes a computer 2350, a video display 2310and input devices 2330, 2332. In addition, the computer system 2300 canhave any of a number of other output devices including line printers,laser printers, plotters, and other reproduction devices connected tothe computer 2350. The computer system 2300 can be connected to one ormore other computers via a communication input/output (I/O) interface2364 using an appropriate communication channel 2340 such as a modemcommunications path, an electronic network, or the like. The network mayinclude a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), anIntranet, and/or the Internet 2320.

The computer 2350 includes the control module 2368, a memory 2370 thatmay include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM),input/output (I/O) interfaces 2364, 2372, a video interface 2360, andone or more storage devices generally represented by the storage device2362. The control module 2368 is implemented using a central processingunit (CPU) that executes or runs a computer readable program code thatperforms a particular function or related set of functions.

The video interface 2360 is connected to the video display 2310 andprovides video signals from the computer 2350 for display on the videodisplay 2310. User input to operate the computer 2350 can be provided byone or more of the input devices 2330, 2332 via the I/O interface 2372.For example, a user of the computer 2350 can use a keyboard as I/Ointerface 2330 and/or a pointing device such as a mouse as I/O interface2332. The keyboard and the mouse provide input to the computer 2350. Thestorage device 2362 can consist of one or more of the following: afloppy disk, a hard disk drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, CD-ROM,magnetic tape or any other of a number of non-volatile storage deviceswell known to those skilled in the art. Each of the elements in thecomputer system 2350 is typically connected to other devices via a bus2380 that in turn can consist of data, address, and control buses.

The method steps for navigating in a multidimensional space containingan electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language are effected by instructions in thesoftware that are carried out by the computer system 2300. Again, thesoftware may be implemented as one or more modules for implementing themethod steps.

In particular, the software may be stored in a computer readable medium,including the storage device 2362 or that is downloaded from a remotelocation via the interface 2364 and communications channel 2340 from theInternet 2320 or another network location or site. The computer system2300 includes the computer readable medium having such software orprogram code recorded such that instructions of the software or theprogram code can be carried out. The use of the computer system 2300preferably effects advantageous apparatuses for navigating amultidimensional space containing an electronic publication formed frompredefined portions of text based data encoded using a markup languageand for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefinedportions of text based data encoded using a markup language inaccordance with the embodiments of the invention.

The computer system 2300 is provided for illustrative purposes and otherconfigurations can be employed without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention. The foregoing is merely an example of the typesof computers or computer systems with which the embodiments of theinvention may be practised. Typically, the processes of the embodimentsare resident as software or a computer readable program code recorded ona hard disk drive as the computer readable medium, and read andcontrolled using the control module 2368. Intermediate storage of theprogram code and any data including entities, tickets, and the like maybe accomplished using the memory 2370, possibly in concert with thestorage device 2362.

In some instances, the program may be supplied to the user encoded on aCD-ROM or a floppy disk (both generally depicted by the storage device2362), or alternatively could be read by the user from the network via amodem device connected to the computer 2350. Still further, the computersystem 2300 can load the software from other computer readable media.This may include magnetic tape, a ROM or integrated circuit, amagneto-optical disk, a radio or infra-red transmission channel betweenthe computer and another device, a computer readable card such as a PCcard, and the Internet 2320 and Intranets including email transmissionsand information recorded on Internet sites and the like. The foregoingare merely examples of relevant computer readable media. Other computerreadable media may be practised without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention.

The process for navigating in a multidimensional space containing anelectronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language can be realised in a centralisedfashion in one computer system 2300, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computersystems.

The process for publishing an electronic publication formed frompredefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup languagemay also be implemented using a computer program product in conjunctionwith the computer system 2300 of FIG. 23 in a manner similar to thatwhich has just been described.

Computer program modules or computer program in the present context meanany expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set ofinstructions intended to cause a system having an information processingcapability to perform a particular function either directly or aftereither or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, codeor notation or b) reproduction in a different material form.

In the foregoing manner, a method, an apparatus, and a computer programproduct for navigating in a multidimensional space containing anelectronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language are disclosed. Further, a method,an apparatus, and a computer program product for publishing anelectronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-baseddata encoded using a markup language are disclosed. While only a smallnumber of embodiments are described, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changesand/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is apparent from the above that the arrangements described areapplicable to the electronic publishing industry.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention,and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments beingillustrative and not restrictive.

We claim:
 1. A method of navigating in a multidimensional spacecontaining an electronic publication comprising a plurality ofpredefined portions comprising text-based data, said method comprising:causing or allowing the display of at least one of said plurality ofpredefined portions as a first predefined portion in a first displayregion, said first predefined portion comprising text-based data andbeing associated with at least one link, wherein said first predefinedportion is stored and corresponds to a first point on a first axis ofsaid multidimensional space; utilizing or allowing utilization ofinformation related to said first predefined portion to allow navigationon the first axis or a second axis to at least a second predefinedportion related to said first predefined portion; and causing orallowing the display of information corresponding to a second point or aplurality of points of said first axis or second axis.